India has moved to strengthen its maritime posture in the northern Bay of Bengal by setting up a new naval base in West Bengal, amid rising Chinese naval activity and shifting regional security dynamics involving Bangladesh and Pakistan. India Today reported, citing top defence sources, that the Indian Navy will operate the facility as a naval “detachment”, primarily focused on deploying small warships for rapid-response operations. As per the report, the Haldia base is expected to host Fast Interceptor Crafts (FICs) and 300 tonne New Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (NWJFACs). The shallow waters and dense maritime traffic near the India–Bangladesh coastline make fast and agile platforms particularly effective for deterrence and interception, India Today said. Officials told the magazine that while land had earlier been earmarked for the Haldia base, construction had remained pending.
